First Steps for New Caregivers

It’s easy to become overwhelmed as a new caregiver. Here are some steps that can help:

Identify yourself as a caregiver

Get a good diagnosis—from a specialist or geriatrician if necessary—of your loved one’s health condition

Learn what specific skills you might need to care for someone with this diagnosis (Caring for someone with Frontotemporal dementia, for example, is different from caring for someone with chronic heart disease)

Most importantly, remember that taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of someone else.

There are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States.

Of that group, nine-in-ten are providing care for an aging relative, and a plurality is caring for a parent, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Adults ages 45 to 64 are the most likely to be caregivers.

In fact, about a quarter (23%) of adults ages 45 to 64 cares for an aging adult.

Most caregiving for aging parents is not in the form of financial support or personal care.

More commonly, adults have helped their parent with errands, housework or home repairs.

Emotional support is a big part of caregiving.

Most adults say they provide some emotional support for their aging parents, but more women say this than men.

The Big 3 for Successful Coping

EAT RIGHT—good nutrition as opposed to stress-snacking. Limit alcohol and other drugs

EXERCISE—it may be hard to find time but it’s the best cure for depression and increases your endorphins (“good” coping hormones)

SLEEP—7-8 hours is hard to get, but essential. Admit when you are experiencing burnout and get help

Keys to Caring for Yourself

It‘s one thing to gear up for a short-term crisis. But it takes different skills to provide care over a longer period of time. You’ll be more successful if you learn to take care of yourself, starting immediately. Some things to remember: